GIANTS' DAVID DIEHL VOWS TO MAKE AMENDS, RESTORE HIS CHARACTER AFTER DUI ARREST (http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2012/06/giants_david_diehl_vows_to_mak.html)

"David Diehl said everything from his <a href="http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2012/06/giants_david_diehl_officially.html">arrest
on Sunday night on charges of driving while intoxicated</a> through today has
been “awful and this is unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced in my
life.”

Yet, the Giants (http://www.nj.com/giants)’ offensive tackle
stood at his locker today and fielded questions for over 8 minutes about the
situation. While he declined to discuss the specifics of the ongoing legal
matter, he talked about apologizing to his teammates for deflecting the
attention from this week’s minicamp and forcing them to answer for him.</p>

Diehl also vowed to make amends for his mistake and correct it as best he can
at this point.</p>

“My teammates, the coaches, the people in this organization know who I am,
they know what I’m all about,” he said. “For 10 years (with the Giants), being
the positive person I am and being the person who’s tried to set a positive
example for everybody, this is the one time in my life I can sincerely have that
regret where people are going to judge me on that. They’re going to question who
I am as a person and a character but the only thing I can do is just like
anything in my life, take this head-on.</p>

“I’m accountable for my actions, I’ve never made an excuse for my life, I’m
going to sit here just like I am now, be a man, face up to things and make sure
I become a stronger person from this and make sure I help other people out.”</p>

Asked how he plans to do that, Diehl said he’ll continue to do the charity
work on which he prides himself while also using his experience as a teaching
point for young men and women.</p>

The mentoring aspect is the positive Tom Coughlin is also trying to take from
the situation.</p>

“David is very remorseful," the Giants' coach said. "He’s a very proud young
man, as you know. He’s very sorry for what happened. He’s been an exemplary
citizen for this organization, I think he understands it completely. He
recognizes and he’s going to be a very, very good spokesperson for trying to
help young people understand his mistake could be avoided in whatever way
possible.</p>

“David will take care of that part of it. He’s a guy we’ve always been able
to count on and he’ll learn from his error.”</p>

Said Diehl, "It doesn’t matter whether you’re an athlete, if you’re anybody
(famous). Nobody is above the law. Nobody is indestructible. And most
importantly, everybody who’s in this situation learns from it."</p>

Diehl received the public support of his agent and a few players on Twitter
the past few days. He got even more in the locker room today.</p>

“People make mistakes,” center David Baas said. “It’s unfortunate, but he’s
the type of guy who will correct it and move on. We have the utmost respect for
him.”</p>

Right guard Chris Snee, Diehl’s teammate since 2004, said his immediate
concern was that Diehl would be okay. He had no doubts Diehl would be able to
handle the fallout.</p>

“When he comes in here, he’ll hold his head high and answer any questions you
have,” Snee said. “That’s just the type of guy he is.”</p>

Diehl did just that a few minutes later, walking confidently into a large
group of reporters and getting right into a three-minute opening statement.</p>

“It’s a mistake that I guarantee will never, ever happen again,” he said.
“I’m going to help other people make sure they don’t make the same decision I
made under the circumstance and I’m going to become a stronger person because of
this.”</p>

Later, he added, “I’ve worked extremely hard throughout my career to be the
guy people look up to, to be the guy that’s a role model. I do more off the
field in the community and for charity than I think anybody in this locker room.
I’m going to make sure people see that side of me that I’ve always been, the
character person I’ve been. The people who are around me the most know
that.”</p>

Though it’s unclear whether he’ll face a suspension, Diehl said he expects to
hear from the league at some point.</p>

“I’m sure they will contact me,” he said. “I’m accountable for my actions,
just like you guys. I’m not running, I’m not hiding, I’m a man, I can stand up
for myself. And I’ll do the same thing I’m doing now.”</p>

* * * *</p>

Folks, this is a delicate dance we in the media have to do when it comes to a
story like this. We don't want to sweep something serious like this under the
rug but we also understand there are 89 other guys in that locker room you want
to hear about. What I mean is I'm sure there's a growing contingent out there
saying, "Enough already."</p>

To those people I'd say hang in there because we aren't forgetting about the
rest of the story lines involving the Giants. Jorge Castillo and I spent every
minute in the open locker room working to get tidbits on all things
football-related, not just those involving Diehl. So stay with us for complete
coverage of this three-day minicamp."</p>

NYGiantsFan56

06-12-2012, 02:12 PM

What Diehl did was stupid. Guy made a dumb mistake and he is lucky no one got hurt by his actions. Doesn't change the fact IMO he is still a man of very good character who just made a mistake. The guy admitted his mistake and he will take his punishment and make things right in the end. Time to move on. However, even though the league probably won't suspend him, I have a feeing Coughlin will. My hunch is Coughlin is going to bench him the Opening Game against Dallas over this incident and that will be the end of it. Time to lay off the guy and let Coughlin, the Courts and Diehl himself deal with the consequences. The guy is rock solid and he will learn from this and make something positive out of it..

GameTime

06-12-2012, 03:49 PM

Of course he is remorseful.....how else should he be acting?? He got bagged and he's a good guy for admiting it?? There is nothing to admit. He got caught and that says it all. </P>

Do you guys actually think this is his first time driving under the influence and he happened to get snagged?? No.....thisis the first time he got caught but certainly not the first time he has driven drunk and I would put money on that. </P>

For years I was very stupid and would drive when I thought I was OK. I was very lucky to have never hurt anyone or get caught.</P>

I am not saying anything bad about DD. But I wont sit here and praise the guy for manning up about something he cannot possible deny. He got caught and will have his penalties, fines, and whatever.</P>

If he then goes on to preach about the dangers of drunk driving then ok. But at this point he is no better than my buddy who got caught 20 years ago and paid his dues for it....</P>

</P>

</P>

Cool Papa B.

06-12-2012, 04:39 PM

Of course he is remorseful.....how else should he be acting?? He got bagged and he's a good guy for admiting it?? There is nothing to admit. He got caught and that says it all. </P>

Do you guys actually think this is his first time driving under the influence and he happened to get snagged?? No.....this*is *the first time he got caught but certainly not the first time he has driven drunk and I would put money on that. </P>

For years I was very stupid and would drive when I thought I was OK. I was very lucky to have never hurt anyone or get caught.</P>

I am not saying anything bad about DD. But I wont sit here and praise the guy for manning up about something he cannot possible deny. He got caught and will have his penalties, fines, and whatever.</P>

If he then goes on to preach about the dangers of drunk driving then ok. But at this point he is no better than my buddy who got caught 20 years ago and paid his dues for it....</P>

*</P>

*</P>

I don't know if this was the first time Deihl drove while drunk, but it sounds like he is remorsful and really wants to make amends for what he did. And he's willing to suffer the consequences for what he did.

Look, if he could go back in time and stop from doing what he did I'm sure he would. But the fact is you can't. All you can do is accept the punishment you will receive, learn from your mistakes, make amends for what you did and move on. I don't like what he did either, but I just thank God no one was hurt hope he learns from it.

I've seen other pro atheletes do this and even worse, not and be as sadened as Deihl was. This is a stain on his c haracter that he probably will have to carry for the rest of his life. I hope he learns from it and teacher others not to do the same.